COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Standards and Conformance Services
The Innovation and Technology Commission's Quality Services Division provides important standards and conformance services for Hong Kong. The Standards and Calibration Laboratory (SCL) holds the official reference standards of physical measurement for Hong Kong and provides calibration services in various areas traceable to the International System of Units of Measurements (SI). The SCL is a signatory to the Global Mutual Recognition Arrangement for National Measurement Institutes operated by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures.
The Product Standards Information Bureau (PSIB) maintains a reference library holding some 120 000 standards issued by different national and international standards organisations. It offers a free advisory service on standards, and a standards sales service operated on a cost-recovery basis. The PSIB also co-ordinates Hong Kong's input to APEC on standards and conformance matters.
The Hong Kong Accreditation Service (HKAS) provides a comprehensive range of accreditation service for local conformance assessment activities and promotes the acceptance of such activities both within Hong Kong and overseas through the establishment of mutual recognition arrangements. The HKAS was among the 33 signatories of the International Laboratory Accreditation Co-operation Multilateral Arrangement which came into effect on January 31. Under the arrangement, signatories undertake to accept test reports issued by each other's accredited organisations and to promote the acceptance of such test reports in their own economies.
Human Resources, Technical Education and Industrial Training
Success in the knowledge-based economy of the 21st century depends heavily upon the availability of talents and skilled manpower at all levels.
Higher-level education and training are provided by the tertiary education institutions. The Vocational Training Council (VTC) provides technical education and industrial training places. In addition, it administers the New Technology Training Scheme which provides financial assistance to employers for training their staff in new technologies and those technologies that are not yet widely applied locally but the application of which will significantly benefit Hong Kong. The Clothing Industry Training Authority (CITA) runs two training centres for the clothing and footwear industries. The Trade and Industry Department is represented on the VTC and the CITA whereas the ITC is represented on the VTC committees concerned with the New Technology Training Scheme.
The implementation of the Admission of Talents Scheme is aimed at attracting talented persons with expertise not available locally and who are able to contribute to enhancing the competitiveness of Hong Kong, particularly in knowledge-intensive and high value-added activities. The Government also launched the Admission of Mainland Professionals Scheme in June. This scheme targets Mainland professionals who can contribute to the operation of the relevant firms and sectors with a view to facilitating economic development in Hong Kong. The scheme is sector specific, initially covering the information technology and financial services sectors.
123